Creating a New Presentation
1. PowerPoint offers several quick and easy options for creating a new
presentation. The figure below represents the New Presentation screen. Some of
these options include a series of screens that ask you to select more
options concerning the content and purpose of your presentation. Simply
follow the screens and select the appropriate option, then click the Next
button, and finally the Finish button when you are satisfied with your
selections.
2. The PowerPoint options for creating a New Presentation are:
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AutoContent Wizard -
Suggests the content and outline of a presentation
based on the type of presentation you are creating. Your responses to
selecting the various options provided by AutoContent Wizard's four screens
will suggest a format with similar content and an appropriate design
created by professionals. You can accept or modify the content as
necessary by using Outline View or Slide View. You can edit the slide
backgound, color, etc. using the options available under the Format menu.
(NOTE: This new presentation option may also bring up the Cue Cards
feature {you can program it to or not} which will provide further
assistance in selecting/manipulating the various features of text, font,
work window, etc.) See Helps--Cue Cards and
Working Within a PowerPoint Presentation for
more information on using these options.
-
Pick a Look Wizard -
Enables you to specify a look appropriate for your presentation; i.e.
black/white slides, color slides, on-screen presentation, or 35mm slides.
It also provides you with a suggestion for a template design without the
content suggestions that AutoContent Wizard offered. You will be guided
through nine steps to identify your options and select your template
design. On Step 3, a small preview screen for each template design
selection is provided so you can see what you select before you apply it.
Check out the More options button. Browse around and learn the various
options that are available and what the various designs look like to find
a favorite.
-
Template -
When you want to select only a template for your new presentation, this
selection takes you directly to the template subdirectory of PowerPoint.
From there you can preview each file and make your
selection. When you select this Template option you may also need to
select a template subdirectory in the Directories: window of the
Presentation Template screen that is appropriate to your type of
presentation - black&white or color overhead or slides - since each
presents the template in a form appropriate to the presentation style.
Simply double click on the template folder to reveal the three
subdirectories, double click on the appropriate folder, select a File Name
from the list, evaluate it in the preview screen, and then click the
Apply button.
(NOTE: This same window is used for editing an existing presentation or
for browsing the available template designs. In this Edit mode it offers
an Apply To All button which allows you to change the template of all
slides, or Apply to just the one you are working on.)
-
Blank Presentation -
Selects the NEW SLIDE window with the AutoLayout options for individual
slides. This option offers a blank slide template that has no style or
design enhancements. You will have to select everything for this
presentation type. This is for the maximum degree of flexibility and also
for the more experienced user. The AutoLayout options present the
predetermined PowerPoint slide formats (i.e., title, two column, column
with clip art, blank, organizational chart, etc.) including Blank, from
which you can begin to build your customized slide. (NOTE: Be sure to use
the scroll bar buttons to see all your options.)
-
Current Presentation Format -
When you have created a presentation that really works for you and you
want to use it again for a New Presentation. This option will copy that
style and use it in a completely new presentation. PowerPoint will create
a new presentation file for you to work in and develop your new material.
This feature is only available when your original presentation is OPEN and
you select the New item from the File menu bar. After you have completed
some of this new presentation you should save it using Save As (under the
File menu bar) so that you can give it a specific name. Otherwise when
you exit it will ask if you want to save the changes to Presentation "X"
which is not a helpful title for finding it later.
3. Quick Steps for Creating a Presentation
If you are new to presentation graphics, you can jump right into
PowerPoint and quickly make a complete slide presentation by following
these simple steps. More detailed information is contained throughout
this document.
Step 1:
Select the AutoContent Wizard option button. The AutoContent wizard
prompts you to make a title slide and then leads you through choosing a
presentation category. You will get an outline that reflects the category
you have chosen. Type your own ideas over the sample text in the outline.
Switch to Slide view to see your slides.
Step 2:
Refine Your Presentation. Once you finish the first draft of a
presentation, you'll probably want to go back and touch it up. That might
include editing the text, changing colors, changing the order of the
slides, or changing the look. To change your presentation's look, you can
apply a template or use the Pick a Look wizard. Or, follow these options:
- Use Outline view to move the text around on your slides or to edit it.
- Edit color and artwork using the Format or Edit menus.
- Change the template (there are more than 100) of your presentation by
clicking the Pick A Look Wizard button on the standard toolbar and
following the on-screen instructions to the More button.
- Customize your presentation by adding clip art and by drawing shapes
on the slides with the PowerPoint drawing tools. Use the Drawing and
Drawing+ toolbars to draw shapes, and then add color and patterns to the
shapes. You can insert clip art by using the Insert Clip Art button. Or,
you can use art from other applications, using the Picture command on the
Insert menu.
- Add Special Effects to your presentation by; creating build slides
(select Slide Sorter view, choose the Build command from the Tools menu,
and then select the special effects you want), or, adding transitions
(choose the Transition command from the Tools menu, and then select a
transition).
Step 3:
Preview your presentation on-screen by clicking the Slide Show button at
the bottom of the PowerPoint window. Click the left mouse button to
advance the slides manually and the right mouse button to reverse the
presentation. (NOTE: Escape button returns you to the work area.)
Step 4:
Save and print your presentation. Before printing your presentation, it's
a good idea to save it using the Save command on the File menu. (NOTE:
When you use the Pick a Look wizard, PowerPoint sets the output format for
you. All you need to do is choose the Print command from the File menu. In
the Print dialog box, choose what you want to print - choose Slides, for
instance, to print a hard copy of your slides.) When you finish working
on your presentation and are ready to quit PowerPoint, from the File menu,
choose the Exit command.
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Introduction
Starting and Exiting Powerpoint
Creating a New Presentation
Working Within a Powerpoint Presentation
Viewing a Powerpoint Presentation
Powerpoint Help
Standard Windows Operating Examples
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